Random Servers Shared Stories Of Suddenly Heartwarming Moments At Their Jobs (23 items)

• (#1) Lending A Helping Hand

  From Redditor u/tamiraisredditing

  My old manager was a real “working for the weekend” type and never went out of their way for us or the customers, no matter what.

  One of the most difficult things about her was we had a homeless guy who’d camp out in our back alley because a lot of heat comes off a vent back there and she’d always make us toss him out because he was visible to customers from the main entrance.

  She’s gone and we have a new manager now. Her first week, one of the employees said “hey that guy’s back” and the new manager said “this guy here often?” and we told her the whole story. She asked what our interactions with him had been like and we told her perfectly pleasant, considering the circumstances.

  She walks out, shakes the guy’s hand, and offers him a dishwashing job on a trial basis.

  She had one of the busboys help him get cleaned up and put him right to work. He knocked it out of the park, made good honest money, and got staff dinner. She told him he was welcome to come back to work any night of the week and if he was consistent she’d see about getting him hired.

  That was two weeks ago, and he started on a permanent basis today!

  He’s been able to move back in with his brother now that he has a job and is saving up all the money he makes here. He’s a month clean and says things are going better now than they have in a long time! 
• (#2) $2000 Tip

  From Redditor u/BlaisePascal1123

  Setting: Miami Beach, FL. late 2009. Seafood Bar and Grill (like a Key West version of a sports bar).

  I had this 40 something, sweet as pie, creative and smart regular who would come in with his elderly mother every Sunday and ask to be seated with me. We'll call him Jimmy. He was certainly on the spectrum, but a genius in his own right. He was a very talented painter (I'm sure he still is).

  Every Sunday, Jimmy would be sitting at my table greeting me with a honest to goodness smile. Between managing tasks for them and other tables, I'd have incredible conversations with Jimmy about the universe and physics. About mathematics and art. I was very happy to have met such a great customer. I could tell he thoroughly enjoyed the company of a server who, one, didn't find him strange and off putting, and two, who could keep up with his favorite topics of conversation. I had just started studying mathematics in college at about this time, and I'm also on the spectrum (but was undiagnosed at the time). I very much looked forward to seeing them each week.

  After about a year of this he one day excitedly announced that his sister from NY was coming into town and that he's told her all about me and he can't wait to introduce us. He's convinced I'll love her (and I didn't doubt him).

  So, next week comes around and now there are three sitting at my table! I can see this thin, elegant yet earthy woman with GORGEOUS wild curly hair. Jimmy introduces her as Patty.

  She's oozing with charisma, and she definitely had a NY attitude--short, to the point, no bs-- but she was, you could instantly tell, very caring. Also intimidatingly smart... not like the dreamy, colorful, wooey science stuff Jimmy and I liked (getting wide eyed and excited to be able to speculate the implications of the double slit experiment)(though I'm sure she knew all about that stuff too), but like... Savvy.

  Jimmy had been keeping up with my progress in school since around the time I had started. This was between semesters, and he knew that I picked 4 exciting classes for the following semester. More than I had ever put on my plate before. He had asked me about how I felt now that the semester was coming up.

  I was fresh 19, no financial aide, no student loans, living on my own, working two serving jobs to pay rent and tuition. I was poor af. Sure, I picked those classes... But, really I was just hoping against hope that I could come up with the $1200 I needed to pay for them. The deadline was fast approaching and I had, just days before this conversation with Jimmy, Patty and their mom, made the decision to drop one, if not two, of the classes so that I could afford the semester.

  Smiling and embarrassed, I told him that I'd be dropping a couple of the classes. He gave a frown and an 'aww' and I had to scamper off to go do server stuff.

  Between the refills and the food drop offs and the cleanups, we all just continue chit chatting. Patty casually asked how much my 4 class semester was going to run me. I told her, not thinking anything if it. The conversation naturally moved on.

  I run off again to serve other tables and I come back to their table towards the end of the meal. Gabbing continues when Patty extends her hand out to me... with a piece of paper. Instinctually, I grab it and... It's a check...

  for $2000.

  I try and give it back, tears in my eyes, she's not smiling-- but I can tell she's perfectly happy-- and adamantly refuses to take it back. NY no BS in full swing. I can tell she's serious. And I just sloppily thank her and run into the kitchen because all of a sudden my knees are Jell-O. I plop on the floor on my butt and sobb. Other staff are running towards me concerned and I can barely tell them that it's not anything bad, that in fact it's incredible, through the crying. Eventually, I gather myself and I gave her a bit better of a thank you, and said goodbye.

  I paid for and took all four classes. Passed all of them with a perfect A. I bought a graphing calculator and a laptop too. I'm not a mathematician yet, but I'm working on it. And I'm not rich yet, but the moment I can afford to make this kind of impact on someone else, I will.

  Thanks, Patty... <3
• (#3) Receipt Retaliation

  From reddit user u/aaanon5402

  It was my first day at a pizza restaurant. This place was always SLAMMED... it’s really where I learned how to be a good server, before that I worked at over staffed burger joints or Italian restaurants. Things were moving pretty fast but I was doing surprisingly well. I had about 10 tables and I was used to 3-4 table sections. I will never forget this couple that came in and sat down at table 24. They were an old couple. I’m talking both gray haired and over dressed to be at a pizza restaurant. I will say I did give them excellent service despite my frazzledness of starting a new job. I was feelin it, and felt great about handling all of my tables...until I did mess up. The man at table 24 handed me his card to close out. I’m BUSY.. like didn’t even have time to pick a wedgie if I had one, busy. I go to the computer and swipe his card. Admittedly I forgot to print out the itemized receipt, which I get can be very frustrating. Man at table 24 had every right to be upset. But instead of asking me to grab the itemized receipt, he began to LOUDLY, in a small room, with a deep and firm tone tell me how horrible I am at my job. That no wonder I only got as far in life as working at a pizza shop. He kept going on with these TERRIBLE comments and wouldn’t let me walk away when I tried. So now all of my other tables just saw me get ripped a new asshole, and I’m in the weeds after wasting time getting yelled at by this guy. The owner of the restaurant must have come in at some point. He saw this man yelling at me, came up to the table and did the most bad ass thing I’ve ever seen.

  Owner: “Excuse me sir,” he says to the man at table 24, “I am the owner of this establishment. I’m not sure what the problem is here and frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is you belittling my waitress. So I’m going to ask you and your wife to leave and not come back to my restaurant.”

  Man at table 24: “Fine but you’ll be losing our business.”

  Owner: “I really don’t care, and don’t want people like you in my restaurant anyway.”

  It was the coolest sh*t I had ever seen. The owner STOOD THERE AND WAITED for these people to leave. It was f*cking bad *ss.

  After they left the owner came up to me and said: “F*ck those people. You’re doing a great job and I wouldn’t have hired you if you didn’t show potential. If anyone else talks to you like that I want you to tell them to f*ck off and get out. I don’t want their money.”

  Coolest. Boss. Ever.
• (#4) Career Goals

  From Redditor u/tamiraisredditing

  I am about to break in half from exhaustion but I had to share this adorable thing from work.

  Got a twelve top, all middle aged/elderly people and one seven year old girl who was clearly bored out of her mind. She was rearranging everyone’s silverware when it fell out of place and asking everyone what they were planning on drinking.

  She kept asking to see what I was writing on my pad and I thought maybe she wanted some paper to draw with or something, but no, her mom is like “Tell her Sophia. Tell her what you want to be when you grow up.”

  She’s shyly like “A waitress.”

  Her mother explained the family rarely goes out to eat so at home she practices asking everyone what they want to eat, writing it down, and telling her mom (the chef), and carrying multiple plates out.

  Since just about none of us wanted to be waitress when we were younger or want to be waitresses now (we don’t hate it, we like our jobs, it’s just not what we laid in bed dreaming of or anything) we were so psyched about her enthusiasm for waitressing and immediately whisked her away to do our tables with us.

  We took her on a tour of the kitchen and showed her how to write a ticket and gave her a trainee badge. Then we took turns having her ask our tables drink and food orders and running food with us to tables (we’d give her like a cup to carry over with both hands or a cold side salad.)

  She had a blast. We couldn’t believe it. We kept waiting for her to be like “Never mind I definitely do not want to be a waitress.” But it never happened. If anything she got more excited the more we showed her.

  And this girl made mad tips in the ~45 minutes she spent waitressing. Almost every table she touched left our tip on the card and then left cash specifically indicating “For the trainee.”

  She took her tips home and we said to come back and start full time when she’s 16.

  She was sooo excited, it really made our night and made us view our job through an entirely different lens. I’d started off the night already really moody and out of it, so this was exactly the gratitude check I needed. Had to share.
• (#5) Merry Christmas!

  From Redditor u/justnotcoo1

  Apparently there is a meet up group that gets together on Christmas morning with the sole purpose of hooking up service industry people. I have served, managed, cooked ect for 18 years and have never had anything like this happen to me nor am I likely to ever have this happen to me again. I gotta share it. I hope y'all can appreciate it.

  I work in a diner. For all of the aforementioned 18 years I have worked in the same place. It is a good place with great mom and pop owners. On the 24th I take off each year and spend with my 4 kids and family. On the 25th I get up and go in at 6am and work. I do this so other people who don't have the luxury of taking the 24th off can have the morning with their kids. They also have small kids and mine are not little anymore. 2 of my kids have worked in service industry beside me since they were 13. On Christmas morning my 18 year old son, we will call Dan, came in with me. He doesn't work in my restaurant any longer but he wanted to hang with me for the day. We love working together.

  I am really glad my son came to work with me. No other servers showed up. I was managing and serving this shift and would of been all alone had Dan not drove in with me. We also only had 1 cook. No dish, no bus, no host, no nothing!

  At 9am a group of 15 walk in. All big hungry guys who start arranging their table themselves moving things and getting settled. I explain that things might be moving slow today as lots of our staff was out for the holliday. These guys were totally understanding and I felt good about them. At that moment a guy comes in off the street saying he was sent to me for orientation! I laughed in his face for a second then I asked if he was willing to work. He eagerly said yes and he puts on an apron and hit the dish pit. Who trains on Christmas?!? A dude who really needs a job I guess. Our first Christmas miracle had just occured.

  I tell Dan that I will take the 15 top. He has a handful of other tables and we are tag teaming everything. We had agreed earlier to split everything down the middle that we made when we realized we were going to be alone. I am just better with large tables and I also knew I would be helping cook for these guests so all the better to hear straight from them what they wanted. I take there order, nothing too complicated, and head back to the kitchen and help cook by manning the grill side. They get their food pretty fast. Me and the cook have worked together that whole 18 years so we are like a well oiled machine.

  They all paid separately or in pairs. I drop the checks and have had a pretty good time with the guys, joking and laughing. They have been a fun table and I am glad they came. I always wonder about people who have no one on Christmas morning and feel a little sad for them. These guys seem like old friends though and I am glad they have each other. Little did I know that these guys only meet once a year and for this event and that they were watching me very closely.

  The first two guys pay. One guy gives me a 100 dollar tip! The next guy gives me 50! I want to thank them but want to do it on the down low because I dont want to make them feel uncomfortable. I go over to them each and give them a whisper, "I am about to hug you." And then give them both a little hug and whisper "thank you." No one seemed to notice because this was a loud busy table. They were all watching though! Three more guys give me there credit card slips... 200, 100 another 50. I stand there stuttering and dumb founded. They realize the jig is up and all of them start shoving money at me. I loose my sh*t and start crying. They are laughing their asses off like they just pulled the best prank of their lives. My son runs over at the sight of his crying mother and I show him 2 if the slips. One says 100 and another says 200. He knew I had just gotten a 100 so he is thinking this is the same one. He glances at the 200 and he thought it said 2.00 so he is confused. Then it hits him.

  It's like a scene from a bad 80's movie. There is crying and laughing and hugging and then they explain who they are and what they are doing. Me and Dan are just freaking out. They left us 750.00 total.

  Once these Christmas Fairies left, me and Dan did some quick math. We had 400 in cash. We decided to split it with cook and the new guy that saved our asses on Christmas morning. We went back to the kitchen and made it rain 20's (not really. We handed it over like sensible people) and both of them were so happy! It felt great to share with them a few hundred bucks and made the rest of that sh*t show of a Christmas brunch rush a tad easier for all of us.

  I love working in the service industry. It is true we see the worst of humanity in our field. But we also see the best sometimes. Today, I saw something crazy and beautiful. These guys planned this, do it yearly and take crazy joy from doing it. I am glad they exist, not just because I became richer financially yesterday but because I became richer in feeling the love of humanity. Thank you Christmas Fairies. May you all have a beautiful New Year.
• (#6) Working Together To Have A Perfect Meal

  From Redditor u/hashtagdrunk

  I work at a fine dining establishment where kids aren't expected, but obviously welcome. I adored this group I had tonight celebrating their grandmother's 70th birthday. When they made their reso they let us know that they had young children in their party that might be disruptive, and asked to be seated appropriately. No prob! Heck, we'll put you in our private dining room where none of our other guests will notice your 3-8 year-olds being noisy. They checked in with the hostess and had some cocktails in the bar before they sat down in their private room, seemingly pleased.

  Everybody sat, super pleasant, easy to deal with. Friggin great, not everybody with kids in fine dining is so easy.

  They gave us a heads up that their kids were energetic, and that they wanted to be there for a while, so putting them in our normally $75 priced private room was on the house and totally worth it.

  These kids might have been irritating, running around and whatnot, but what was extra awesome about this group is that they told their kids to "time-out" when I entered the room with a tray of drinks or arms full of food. Whenever I entered, the older kids politely expelled "time-out!" and everyone "froze" so I could walk around them without worrying about running into them. When I left the room I called "time-in" and they'd return to running around AF. It was oddly fun, and I appreciate that family to no end; not only for raising kids to acknowledge the people they encounter in their daily lives, but for just being genuinely wonderful.
• (#7) Pay It Forward

  From Redditor u/FASBsGAAP

  So to start off with my restaurant, a high end steakhouse, has a rewards program. You get points to spend that accrue at a 10% rate off the dollars you spend.

  One of our regulars has found an amazing way to spend these points. He's really rich and doesn't need them so he's authorized me and another server to spend his money on... worthy tables.

  I'm not looking for them but now twice I've been privileged enough to buy a meal for a deserving party.

  Last night I had a five top: a young couple(bride and groom), his parents, and the grooms sister. As part of my standard greeting I ask if their celebrating anything. The mother says they're celebrating good medical results. The sister says, "Yeah no more chemo!" And points to the bride. They were young, early twenties, they couldn't have been married long. And she was already a cancer survivor? I can't even fathom. They collectively shush the sister, they seem private. I say congratulations and solicit drinks. They don't want anything. I leave them with the menus. When I come back they order mostly the cheapest things on the menu. I get the impression they can't afford to be here.

  I slowly start to add little things to their order. We do tableside Caesars. I put on a big show and crack a bunch of jokes, warming them up. I upgrade their steaks secretly. With entrees I bring the bride our most expensive wine by the glass. Say it's on the house and do a big somm routine and extol its story and virtues. She's loving it. I bring out sides they talked about ordering but didn't. For dessert we put on a big flame show with bananas foster. They order the minimum order of two, we get the whole table. A little candle for the bride. I bring out a thirty-year tawny port. It blows her mind.

  My wealthy friend only had $380 dollars left on his account. Too much charity I guess. I pull off a hundred from the check and pay for it myself. I left a little on the check to give the father some dignity. I present the check and whisper the story about the entrepreneur and his points. We both choke up. (I'm crying a little now.) He pays. When I come back he says, "Now I don't have a lot, but I have enough and I've always given to charity. But I've never known what it felt like to receive it until now. It's amazing. I'll pass it on." They asked if their benefactor was there. I said no. They asked for his name, I said he liked to be anonymous. They tipped me 50% of the original total. I didn't take a cent of it.

  Best experience of my 15 year serving career.
• (#8) Bread Guy Is The Perfect Man

  From Redditor u/QueenOfBrews

  Dearest Bread Guy...

  You sat at my bar at just the right..or wrong moment. I’d been getting my ass handed to me, and it wasn’t even 8pm.

  You found a bar seat and ordered the soup special and a beer. You asked if the soup came with bread. I assured you it did. Even though I was wary, and had a feeling your bread would be forgotten. I was on the border of weedsville, and did not risk going back to the kitchen to make sure.

  I was right, your soup came out in a very timely manner, but alas, no bread! Though I was now thoroughly slammed, I did indeed notice, and ran back to the kitchen to get some bread. This bread needs to be warmed, and it’s going to be a moment. F*ck.

  I go back to my cubicle of hell, to see I’ve gotten a rather large group that I need to make sure I ID, they all look extremely young. From the corner of my eye, I see you are not eating your soup. This upsets me, but I can’t do much about it in my current state. However, I am worried for you.

  In my state of madness, you ask, “that bread coming anytime soon?”

  I die.

  “I’m working on it! I’m sorry, I haven’t gotten a chance to—-“

  He says it’s ok, he sees I’m busy. This is still not ok with me. This man needs his bread.

  I get through my assault of college kids. I sprint to the kitchen to find perfectly warmed bread. I present my dude the bread, but I’m concerned, I don’t think he’s touched his soup, because he’s been waiting for bread. I saw this coming. I ask if I can get him a new soup, since he’s been waiting.

  No.

  It was the perfect amount of time to let it cool down apparently. The bread is perfect. He proceeds to tell me I’m incredibly good at what I do, understands I’m busy, and he will take the check.

  I thank him for his patience, we laugh a bit. I go back to getting ass punched by college kids.

  $14 check

  $40 tip.

  Thank you bread guy. May your autumn days be filled with room temperature soup, and warm bread.
• (#9) Proud Of Everyone In This Situation

  From Redditor u/buttmuffins123

  Last night I had a had a two top made up of a mother and her teenage kid. I couldn't figure out if the kid was a boy or a girl because they had this haircut and they had amazing makeup on. Guys wearing makeup and styling themselves more feminine seems to be more common and doesn't bother me a bit, but I didn't wanna offend them, so I did my best to use gender neutral terms until mom used the word "he". Anyway get their dinner to them, check in, and leave them alone to enjoy their meal.

  Flash forward to the end of service and I really wanted to compliment him on his makeup so I said "Hey I hope you don't mind me saying so, but your makeup is awesome!" and oh my god, the mom just starts GUSHING about how he's going to NYC to do a really prestigious makeup artist program or something and how her son had done her makeup for an event and how well it turned out. She was just so proud of her son and his talent even though it's not a "typical boy's hobby" and it warmed my heart. I wished him luck and joked that with his skill he wouldn't need it and wished them a good night.

  Mom tipped $10 on $30 and drew a smiley face on the merchant copy :)
• (#10) Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

  From Redditor u/blondiebell

  My very last table of the night was a younger, probably late teens, pair. I definitely judged them at first and didn't expect much, they came in 25min before close and I hadn't had a good day. They ordered quickly, ate quickly, and split the check. Upon clearing the table I saw that BOTH of them had tipped me $10 on their under $10 checks and I nearly cried. It's the little things in serving that can make or break your night, so to those two young people thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving my night a sweet ending. I'm sorry I judged you.
• (#11) Closing Time Cuties

  From Redditor u/Senor_Martillo

  To the guy who came in with his wife Sunday night, 20 minutes before closing:

  You stuck your head in the front door around 20 minutes to 10, looking expectantly with your blonde wife in tow. I swallowed disappointment, yet again, while wearing a pained smile, and waved you into the bar area.

  You sat down and ordered straight away: top shelf bourbon on the rocks for you, Prosecco for the wife, and a volcano cake to share. You were both well-dressed and charming and funny. Your wife was hot and smelled good.

  You both savored every bite, made me laugh, tipped 30%, and breezed out the door with 2 minutes left on the clock.

  I love you.

  (This fictional post is based on true events!)
• (#12) Comforting Each Other

  From Redditor u/Rounder057

  This happened a few years ago but was reminded of it. I was bartending on the bar side of a restaurant. A man came in with his son, about 3 years old. He ordered a small beer and seemed sad about ordering it. He wasn’t really drinking, sips here and there. He would look at his beer and then his son and then off into the distance. At this time I had about 2 years sober so I thought I knew what I was looking at. I have seen people on the relapse edge and I have been there myself, it is a dark and lonely place. He ordered some food for his son only and I rang it in. I went back over and asked him if everything was alright. He nodded at me, like you would expect when a stranger asks that type of thing but it was obvious he wasn’t. I gently asked again and this man broke. He looked up at me and I could tell he was holding back an ocean of tears. He told me that his wife had died 2 days ago. He said that he had no idea what to do or how to do it. He said he ordered the beer because he thought that would help but realized that there is no cure for his pain. He said he didn’t know how to tell his son let alone get by alone with him. It was f*cking heartbreaking. The food runner brought out the boys food and it was awkward but it broke the tension in a way. He said over and over “I don’t know what to do” I told him the story about how my little brother had passed away 3 years ago and how it crippled my family. I told him that hole will always be there but it does get easier. He started crying more and I was weeping at this point too. Then this man got out of the booth and stood in front of me and we gave each other the biggest hug while we both wept. Afterwards he asked me how much I owed him for his kids meal and the beer. I paid for it out of my tips and never saw him or his son again. Every time I think about this it chokes me up.
• (#13) Upstanding Young Men

  From Redditor u/[deleted]

  Last night I had a table of three men, probably around 18-20 years old each. They were super polite, ordered three of the most expensive items on the menu, I gave them nice service, and everything went perfectly. Their total was 146 dollars. I was excited because I was hoping I would get the 20 percent, which would be like 29 dollars. But no, I didn’t get the 20 percent, they left me a $100 dollar cash tip! I was so shocked. That was soooo nice of them. At my restaurant I only ever hear of older people and couples giving $100 tips, so this was something new! They gave me my first ever $100 tip :) good vibes! To those kind three young men, THANK YOU!!!
• (#14) Divorce Her!!!

  From Redditor u/bad_thrower

  I am no longer a server, but was one all through college... I worked at a franchise of a chain of 24-hour restaurants that is notorious for cheap breakfasts and sh*tty service. Big yellow sign with red letters.

  Like all of you, I took great pride in my job and how I treated my customers. In all honesty, if I could find a server job that offered good insurance and steady tips, I would consider going back to it. I really, truly loved waiting tables and making people's lives a little more pleasant, at least while they were in my section. It sounds cheesy, but it's true.

  I had several 'regulars" that always sat in my section, but there were other servers that had their regulars as well. One of them was a really pleasant, jovial man... and his horrible, nasty wife. She was the kind of woman who got off on being a bitch and making other people's lives miserable. One particular day, I had to cover some tables in a different server's section because a server called in sick. I was warned about this couple when they came in, but had never waited on them before so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I was told that she had a habit of complaining endlessly about everything, demanding to speak to the manager every time they came in and berating the servers and cooks at every turn. The husband (who often came in by himself) was the opposite - friendly, good-natured, well-liked.

  As soon as they were seated, before I could even get their drink orders, the husband got up from the booth and walked outside for a few minutes, leaving me alone with the wife. I put on my best smiley, cheerful face and greeted her. She refused to make eye contact with me and instead scowled and snarled, "You would think that, as much money as we spend here, you people would know what we like to drink! Why do we have to keep going through this? I want ICED TEA, NO LEMON!!". She didn't tell me what the husband wanted, and I didn't ask... I was just so taken aback by the anger straight out of the gate that I just turned on my heels and walked away.

  I poured her an iced tea - NO LEMON!! - and brought it back to her. Before I could even set it down, she snapped, "I already know what I want to eat, and we're in a HURRY." (bear in mind that the husband is still outside). I took her order, still trying to be pleasant, and before I could walk away she snarled "and the last time you people brought the food out, it was COLD!! I do NOT want cold food! And I want EXTRA CHEESE on my scrambled eggs!! and SALSA!!". Her voice seemed to drip with more and more anger with every word she spat out.

  As I was ringing up the order, I thought of a thousand things I wanted to do, then I hit up on an idea... instead of getting back at her, I was going to not only go out of my way to make her meal as perfect and delicious as possible, but I was going to embarrass her as well.

  I made sure everything was perfect... piping hot, lots and lots of cheese on the eggs, fresh salsa warmed up to room temperature. By the time the meal was ready, the husband had returned to the table and was happily chatting with one of the servers. I mustered up my best scared/sad face as I brought out the food to her. As I sat it down, I started to tear up, just a little, and expressed in gushing, flowery terms how sorry I was for how badly she was treated the last time she was here, and how hard I worked to make sure the food was absolutely 100% according to her specifications, and that I felt SO BAD for how she was treated the last time she was here, that I was going to pay for her meal out of my tips and how I hoped that she would be willing to accept my apology on behalf of the whole restaurant for her miserable experience. I really laid it on as thickly and sweetly as I could.

  Her husband, who was happy and smiling and cheerful just seconds ago, stared her down with a sick, horrid look, his face turning bright red. She was MORTIFIED, her face turning equally red... she hung her head and said, "ummm.... okay...". I asked her if everything was to her satisfaction this time, and if it wasn't, I would rectify it immediately. She stared at her plate, pushed it around a bit, and said, "ummmm... yeah...". The husband is staring her down, clenching his jaw. He politely ordered his meal and as I was walking away, I heard him hiss at her, "what did you say to her? What did you DO??".

  She was silent and sulking for the rest of the meal, and he was polite but not overly chatty. When they were finished, she stormed out before he even left the table, head hung. He apologized profusely to me for how she had acted and left a generous tip on top of paying the tab. To the best of my recollection, she never acted like a bitch to any of us ever again.
• (#15) ID, Please!

  From Redditor u/AnsleyStar

  This is one of my favorite memories of working in a restaurant.

  Full disclosure, if somebody is an asshole to me and they order a drink, I always card them. A minor inconvenience on their end but it’s satisfying to me to stand there waiting while they grumble and find and fish out their wallets and show me their ID.

  It was a super busy night and we were understaffed, which was very clearly obvious. I finally got to a table (they’d only been sitting there 5ish minutes) and said “Hi, my name is AnsleyStar, welcome to ___! Can I get you started with —“ and the husband interrupts me and says “You can stop right there, we would like some drinks.” So I said without hesitation “Okay! Can I see your ID please?” He glares at me and tries to find his wallet.

  His wife, who was holding their baby, leaned over and whispered very loudly “hey, she did that because you’re an asshole.”

  It took everything I had in me not to laugh. Dude shut up and was nice the rest of the time. I didn’t charge her for her glass of wine either. Thanks lady!
• (#16) Not All Heroes Wear Capes; Some Leave Before Closing

  From Redditor u/Qoxonmafase

  A couple walked in at 8:55. We close at 9.

  They sit, I walk over to greet and they ask what time we close. "Actually, we close at 9. You just made it in time! What can I get you started with to drink?"

  "Oh, no no no. You close in 5 minutes? Have a great night." And they got up and happily left. You guys are my f*cking heroes.
• (#17) First Shift Savior

  From Redditor u/k0maru

  So a backstory... I was a manager at McDonald’s and I’ve worked there for about two years. After a few issues with upper management, I decided to quit and pursue another job in the food industry. The day I quit, I got an offer to work at a popular ramen restaurant. That starts with a J and ends with ya! The ramens cost between $13-$20.

  Now, I thought I would be a PRO at working at my new job. But it was just like hitting rewind and learning from the start. McDonald’s compared to working at a restaurant is a huge step and has many differences.

  I still decided that I was going to try my hardest to be quick with learning everything.

  During my first shift, I guess some customers could tell I was very stressed out. In my opinion, the training wasn’t very good. This restaurant is more of a “learn as you go, but still get scolded for not knowing something that you weren’t taught.” One of my tables in my section overheard me getting scolded for something, and continued to watch me work. I could feel their eyes on me but I thought nothing of it.

  By the end of their stay... they called me over. Asked for the bill. Separate bills between two.

  I brought it over to them and they paid. After paying, one of the guys took $50 out of his pocket and told me,

  “You’re a hard worker and I can see that. It can be stressful but you’ll get used to it as you work more. Don’t try to let the mistakes get the best of you!”

  I almost started crying.

  Thank you to the guy who made my first shift 100% better and for relieving my stress. :)
• (#18) A Father Daughter Moment

  From Redditor u/Xtine85

  To the dad who was teaching his daughter how to tip last night...

  THANK YOU! You have no idea that two life long industry people, were eaves dropping on your conversation with your young daughter last night. My partner (42 m) and I (32F) had been traveling all day and made a detour to try these delicious soup dumplings that we had read about. We were seated right next to you as you both were finishing up your meal. (Don’t worry, we’re weren’t creeping the whole time you were there, that’s not our style.) She seems to be around 5, that curious age, that “why?” age. I overheard you explaining a few different things to her as you guys were wrapping up the food and you sound like a great, level headed dad. When the bill arrived I listened as you had her count out loud how much money the bill was and how much cash you had put on the table for the server who had taken care of you two. She’s smart, she noticed that you put too much money down, naturally she asked “why.” Thank you for explaining that everyone in the restaurant worked hard to put together the meal that you guys had just enjoyed. Thank you for including the bus boy, the dishwasher, and the hostess in your explanation. Thank you for adding the additional information about how the culture here in America is different and explaining to her about how much waitstaff do (Or do not make) hourly. Your break down to your daughter about the tipping culture and how it should be respected was simple, to the point and a lesson that I hope she takes with her everywhere for the rest of her life. You sir, in my eyes, deserve to be ‘Dad of the Year’ and thank you for reminding me again that not all hero’s wear capes.
• (#19) Getting A Helping Hand

  From Redditor u/IEATTURANTULAS

  Little kid did all my side work. So I...

  bought him a scoop of ice cream. He was very polite and a little shy. He saw me cleaning up the kids area which has giant connect four, corn hole and other games. He just started helping me without talking. After cleaning for a bit I went back in to check on my remaining tables and when I went back out the whole kids area was perfect. Like he somehow even knew how to organize everything.

  Without saying anything I rang up an order of chocolate gelato and gave it to him as he was finishing up with a few connect four rings. I just said "Here dude, thanks for the help".

  He still didn't really talk after that. He held the gelato in one hand while he finished picking up a few things. Then a little later I saw him back with his family at an inside table happily eating the desert.

  I could have somehow got the gelato for free but I just paid it out of my pocket because of how happy I was. He literally saved me like 15min of work. His parents were impressed when I said he helped me clean and got a free ice cream out of it. Positive night last night!

   
• (#20) Kindess Is Contagious

  From Redditor u/samuallblackson

  You might not have known it but I had spent the last hour crying on and off. You might not have known that I was crying because I was running around the theater with 45 tables all at once. You might not have known I was crying because my boss had just yelled at me again, and I was horrifically stressed. You might not have known over half my tables that night, didn't tip, because people don't feel the need to at a dine-in movie theater. All you did know is that our system was on the fritz, and it was slowing me down.

  But that $10 tip accounted for a whole third of my tips last night, for 7 hours of dripping sweat and tears. I cried happy tears at your kindness. Thank you sir, for making my night better and giving me a reason to remember why I stay in this job. kindness is contagious. Thank you.
• (#21) When The Tip Is Cookies

  From Redditor u/aDragonOr2

  Customer said they left their card at home and would come back and pay...

  And then brought cookies as a thanks for trusting them. Some times it pays to believe in basic human decency.

  Being nice and things working out tastes good.
• (#22) Tip Well If You're Annoying

  From Redditor u/wanderlustx

  I work at a country club, and I was bartending a very busy wedding reception Saturday. And this one dude was bugging me all day. We have a limited bar, it was mostly a beer and wine crowd, and basic mixed drinks, and he wanted a specific shot during the cocktail hour that we cannot make so I made him something similar, and he likes what I make for him well enough and says that's his drink of choice for the night. But then he also wants bottles of sambuca and jager on ice, so I'm like sure I can throw them in the fridge and they'll be cold for serving later. Every time he came up to the bar he would wiggle his eyebrows at me and say nothing, expecting me to just read his mind and line up some shots for him and his friends. So I just stare back at him and wait for him to use his words, like a normal human being, to order a drink. One time when he was up he was bragging to his buddy about how he was friends with the bartenders, so we'll serve them first blah blah blah, which is so not the case, and I told them such. Basically the dude was just trying my patience the whole night.

  So later, it was probably past midnight, still very busy, I'm getting exhausted. Dude comes up for 4 shots, so I line up the shot glasses on the counter and am about to pour when he grabs the glass and moves it. He apologises, moves it back, and I go to pour it again and he does the same thing, thinking he's being 'cute' or 'funny'. And I'm already past my limit of this guy and without thinking I say "F*ck off!" waaayyy louder than I should've. His girlfriend immediately laughs because she's been giving me apologetic looks all night, like she knows he's been annoying. The guy kinda pouts at me and I really thought he was going to have a fit and turn it into a big deal but he eventually just laughs and puts his hand up for a high five. I reluctantly high five him and pour his shots and tell him to not do that again or I won't serve him anymore.

  Then he slips me a $50 as he's leaving. It was an open bar where we get tipped out 15% from the host so we don't really expect guests to tip us much, so I was kinda shocked.
• (#23) Bless Regulars

  From Redditor u/seriouslydml55

  I manage a small sandwich shop and ham store. One of my regulars saw me dealing with a unfortunate customer who was fighting me on everything. She stuck her face in his food trying to poke and pry at what's that I want that! She was all but sticking her hand on the plate to eat it. He asked her kindly to back away from his lunch and she says "what's the big deal it's not like I'm sick". She comes back to me and starts giving me hell over a 7.49 sandwich. My regular asked her if she had "drank carnation instant b*tchfast for breakfast today or is this what shes like all the time?)". Made my day. I totally drew a d*ck in mayo on her half of the sandwich so she could eat a d*ck.

  I love regulars who understand!

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